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Erratic Suns try to get on track amid turmoil

Feb 8, 2009 - 8:21 AM Phoenix (27-21) at Detroit (27-21) 8:00 p.m. EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- With the organization steeped in turmoil, the Phoenix Suns will try to block it all out Sunday when they hit the road for a brief, but crucial, three-game, Eastern Conference road trip.

With meetings looming at Philadelphia and Cleveland, the Suns get things started against the up-and-down Detroit Pistons.

A lot of attention has swirled around the Suns this week amid rumors that they are shopping All-Stars Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. Any such moves, if they ever happen, would signal not only the all-but-official end to the recent era for the club, but might might help tilt the balance of power in the Western Conference.

The Suns, once considered among the top title contenders in the NBA, are currently on the outside looking in. Sitting a half-game out of the No. 8 playoff spot, the Suns are in the midst of a year of decline and may want to re-tool already. Dealing their leading scorer and marquee center would certainly be a big step.

Until that happens, the Suns have to keep playing with what they have. And what they have is a rabidly inconsistent group of players. After dropping two in a row to close out January, they manhandled the Sacramento Kings in the most lopsided rout of the entire NBA season. The next game, they got blown out by the lowly Warriors, only to return the favor in the rematch two nights later.

Needless to say, consistency has been hard to come by this season.

The same could be said for the Pistons, who acquired superstar Allen Iverson early this season but have yet to get their offense straightened out with their expensive new piece. They are coming off a dramatic victory Saturday night, as the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks took them to overtime, only to see the Pistons come away with a 126-121 victory thanks to a 38-point showing from Richard Hamilton.